Senior Development Officer or Development Officer, College of Engineering

Purdue Research Foundation • West Lafayette, IN

4h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Purdue For Life Foundation seeks a Senior Development Officer or Development Officer to join the College of Engineering development team. The role advances Purdue’s innovation and impact by connecting donors with projects supporting engineering education and research. It involves developing donor relationships and fundraising plans, collaborating with a mission-driven team, and helping support educational initiatives, scholarships, and programs that benefit Purdue students and graduates.

The position requires frequent travel and evening or weekend duties, as well as the ability to work onsite in West Lafayette, Indiana, up to three days per week. The successful candidate will use Salesforce CRM to support fundraising activities and represent Purdue University with professionalism, tact, and diplomacy.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Development Officer: At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Senior Development Officer: At least 3 years of experience in development, fundraising, or alumni relations.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license.
• Public speaking skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including written communication.
• Ability to interact with stakeholders from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds.
• Good judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality and represent the University with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to articulate Purdue University’s mission.
• Initiative and ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team.
• Excellent relationship-building and organizational skills, with ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to solicit gifts in person.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to work onsite in West Lafayette, Indiana, up to 3 days per week.

Nice To Haves

• For Development Officer candidates, experience in development, including gift solicitation, or related work such as public relations or marketing/sales, with demonstrated success.
• For Senior Development Officer candidates, higher education experience.
• Knowledge of philanthropy and fundraising principles.
• Interest in continuously improving professional competency through professional development opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a plan to bring donors to the College of Engineering and the University through active use of the development process.
• Set objectives to advance toward major-gift solicitation in accordance with the Purdue for Life Foundation’s fundraiser metric system.
• In consultation with the Executive Director, unit heads, and Vice President for Development, identify and establish personal contact with current and prospective major-gift donors whose interests and financial capacity align with unit and University fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with development and department staff to develop prospect strategies and build relationships.
• Set goals and objectives to advance toward solicitation of annual and major gifts.
• Host, co-host, or attend development-related receptions and other donor events locally and regionally.
• Become familiar with key initiatives of the units comprising the College of Engineering.
• Report regularly on progress toward annual goals and action plans.
• Use Salesforce CRM to support annual and major-gift activities.
• Share information promptly with other pertinent development officers to maintain collegial relationships.
• Perform other assigned duties, including serving as a liaison for a unit head.

Benefits

• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Accrue up to 22 vacation days per year.
• Traditional pre-tax 403(b) and Roth retirement plans available.
• 10% employer contribution to the retirement plan with immediate vesting.
• Health Savings Account with the opportunity to earn up to $700 annually toward medical expenses.
• Employer-funded preventative dental and vision insurance.
• Tuition discounts on eligible programs at Purdue University and Purdue Global for qualified employees, spouses, and dependents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level